Our Team
Laurie House
Executive Director
Emily Rascoe
Arts & Outreach Coordinator
Steve (Scuba) Walsh
Recreation Coordinator
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Steve joined the Elizabethtown Social Center in Spring 2024 as Recreation Coordinator, with his primary focus on Teen Rec, where he plans programs and trips, keeps teens engaged, and brings plenty of energy to the Center. Known as the Center’s “typical dad,” Steve is always ready with a corny joke, a pun, or an unexpected dance move, encouraging teens to be comfortable being themselves. His interests span sports, music, art, gaming, outdoor adventures, and travel, and his varied career background has included entertainment, education, IT, food service, management, and more. Although he didn’t grow up in E’town, Steve first became familiar with the community while attending SUNY Plattsburgh and completing part of his teaching practicum at ELCS. Today, he is an active member of the community, serving on the Youth Commission, coaching Biddy soccer, volunteering, and cheering on the many young people he has coached over the years. As a father and someone who grew up without a Social Center, Steve believes strongly in the Center’s mission and Cora’s vision of creating a place where young people can grow, connect, and feel at home.
Shari Morris
Office Manager
Thomas Cross
Facilities Manager
Angelo Rodriguez
Program Assistant
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I am an Assistant Program Coordinator at the Elizabethtown Social Center, where I have been working since 2022. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Community and Youth Development through Sport from the University of Connecticut and my Master of Arts in Physical Education from the University of South Florida. I am currently in my fifth year teaching Physical Education and enjoy working with youth both in and outside the classroom.
Outside of work, I enjoy coaching, playing sports, playing video games, playing guitar, and spending time with my dog.
Elise Cassidy
Program Assistant
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​Hello! My name is Elise Cassidy, and I am a Teen Rec Assistant here at the Etown Social Center. My partner and I recently moved to the North Country full-time and spent the summer starting our farm, Loamy Home Farm, in Essex. I am currently pursuing my master's in adolescent education with an English concentration at SUNY Plattsburgh. Working at the Social Center has been a great experience, allowing me to get to know local students in a district I hope to teach in one day. I love nature and have been enjoying taking the kids down to the river to look for frogs, interesting rocks, and to splash around!
Lucy Misarski
Program Assistant
Board of Directors
Hildegard Moore
President
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Hildegard has been a life long resident of Elizabethtown, leaving briefly for a few years to pursue a teaching career. Graduate of University of NY Postsdam with a BS degree in Elementary Education, and returned to Elizabethtown to aid her family in the operation and ownership of the Cobble Hill Inn and the raise her son, Robert. The social center was her go to place as a teen and continued throughout her adulthood. The center was a welcoming place for all ages and backgrounds to gather and share interests. She became an active Board member in 1972 and has continued to this date. She believes strongly in Cora Putnam Hale's mission by continuing to serve our community by helping the center with strategic planning for growth and sustainability. Hildegard has brought a sense of management and support to this organization with her growth oriented attitudes, as evidence in her work with the Nonprofit Elizabethtown Thrift Shop and the Boquet Senior Housing Development Board. Avid golfer at Cobble Hill golf course and in the Villages, FL.
Ryan Hathaway
Vice President
Michael Peck
Treasurer
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Mike brings a unique mix of healthcare, accounting, and financial experience to the Social Center.
He is a Registered Nurse and works as a Quality Improvement and Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator at the Federal Correctional Institution in Ray Brook.
He also holds degrees in Accounting and Economics and has previous experience in auditing.
Michael’s connection to the Social Center is personal—his spouse is a lifelong area resident who attended the Center, and his two sons are active participants in Teen Rec and other programs.
He is very involved in the local community, currently coaching Modified Boys soccer and supporting local athletics.
Outside of work and coaching, Michael enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, reading, and gardening.
Bridgett Allen
Secretary
Barbara Harwood
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Andy Wekin
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Harry Caldwell
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Kaitlin Egglefield
Director: Senior Accounting Specialist with BST Gallagher Flynn LLP, working in outsourced accounting and advisory services. She holds a B.S. in Accounting from SUNY Plattsburgh and serves on the Social Center's Finance Committee. Having attended the Social Center herself growing up and now seeing her own children enjoy its programs, Kaitlin values the Social Center's longstanding role in the community and is pleased to contribute her financial experience to the Board.
Board of Trustees
Alan Hipps
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Rob DeMuro
I have been living in Elizabethtown since 1999 when I joined Elizabethtown Communtiy Hospital as a full time physician and within a few years was Chief of Staff. I have served on the hospital board for over 20 years and have learned to appreciate the time that community members donate for that and other boards. We have seen the hospital grow from 1 clinic to 6 in attempts to bring primary care to all corners of Essex county.
In 2004 The Deers Head Inn was in great disrepair and with some partners we rented the building and reopened it for lunch and dinner. After 9 years my partners changed and we did a more extensive renovation in 2016 to bring it up to date with what people look for in a small town tavern setting. At times that has been like another full time job but the joy of seeing the community embrace it has been worth every minute.
In 2020 while the Inn was closed for Covid i started playing music with some friends downstairs in a social distancing atmosphere and we eventually formed a band the PondeRz that led to recording our own original music and recently releasing 8 songs on major streaming platforms.
The greatest joy of living here was raising my three children and seeing them all go off to pursue careers in areas they are a passionate about.
The social center was a big influence on my kids when they were young and I always appreciated the safe space where they could meet with friends. When i was asked to be a trustee it was easy to say yes.
Megan Murphy
Megan Murphy has been a Trustee for over one year. She is retired from her career in the non-profit world of health care and housing. Megan managed complex programs and brought tens of millions of dollars in grant funding to the region, improving the quality of life for some of our most vulnerable community members. Her last position was Executive Director of Adirondack Roots. Megan is passionate about the value of early childhood development, communities that support people of all ages, and the value of organizations like the Social Center that improve the quality of life in our community. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Fordham University and a degree from the French Culinary Institute in the art of international bread baking. For the past 26 years she has made her home in New Russia, the perfect location for a family that enjoys hiking, canoeing, swimming, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and Nordic skating.